13 Most Instagrammable Places in London

You simply can't resist a selfie with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. For the best shots, try photographing them from the opposite side of the river, or from the Golden Jubilee Bridge, Westminster Bridge or Lambeth Bridge. Make your way to the Parliament Square Garden and capture the Winston Churchill statue and Big Ben in one and the same photo. 

There’s lots of happening every day throughout the year around Big Ben, so finding a great and unobstructed angle might be a challenge but well worth spending some time walking around the area. If you’re travelling by the Tube, hop off at the Westminster station.

Head over to Buckingham Palace to capture the most famous royal residence in London. If you come around 11 am, you’ll have a chance to catch the Changing of the Guard. You might have to queue to get one of the best views so get there early. If you want to know who’s at home at Buckingham Palace, it’s enough to look up at the flags flying high over the building. If the Royal Standard is flying, it means that the king is in residence. 

To enter the palace for a glimpse and a photo of the magnificent State Rooms with their gilded ceilings and glittering chandeliers, book your tour ticket well in advance.

An English pub with a roaring fire on a cold winter night and a local ale, that’s the very definition of bliss. In London, you can find a decent pub on every street, so why not gather your mates for a night filled with good laughs, great beer and delicious pub grub? Cosy up for a group photo or just capture the laidback ambiance of your local establishment. 

If you want to photograph a classic pub with ceiling panels and large windows and then savour the famous Sunday roast, head to The Royal Oak in Marylebone. Or visit Audley Public House in Mayfair for a selfie in a traditional pub setting.

If you have a head for heights and want to snap the most amazing photo of the London skyline, take a high-speed lift to the top of The Shard. At almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in the capital, it offers visitors 360-degree views for up to 40 miles (64 km). 

All tickets are dated and timed for your arrival, but once at the viewing platforms, you can enjoy the experience at your leisure, with no time restriction on your stay. The get to The Shard, use the Tube and exit at the London Bridge station. For a luxurious overnight stay in these towering heights, book a room at the Shangri-La The Shard.

Tower Bridge is one of the most iconic London landmarks and photographing this Victorian masterpiece is a must-do on your visit to the Big Smoke. You can walk across the bridge for free. If you want to access the glass walkways or steam engine room, book a ticket for the Tower Bridge Exhibition beforehand. 

To witness the bridge lifting to allow larger boats on the River Thames go by, visit the Tower Bridge's official website for the lifting times. The nearest station is Tower Hill which is an 8-minute walk away. If you’d like to stay near the Tower Bridge in style, try The Lalit London hotel on the south bank.

Taking a selfie on a double-decker bus must be on your bucket list when visiting London. The red buses are an enduring icon of London, and what’s more, hopping on a London bus is one of the best ways to see the city on a budget. Just tap in with your Oyster Visitor Card, contactless card or mobile device and see some of the most famous London landmarks for peanuts.

Catch the 24 from Pimlico to Hampstead Heath and photograph Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and the bustling Trafalgar Square with Nelson’s Column and the famous lion statues. The 9 from Aldwych to Hammersmith takes you past Somerset House, Green Park, Harrods, Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Gardens.

Covent Garden is an elegant shopping and entertainment hub in London's West End, and an Instagrammable site in its own right. The action centres around the car-free Piazza, home to fashion boutiques, craft stalls and the Royal Opera House. You can witness talented street entertainers perform by 17th-century St. Paul’s Church. Rest your feet at the upscale restaurants or cosy cafes or book a ticket to see a show at one of the nearby theatres. 

Visit around the Christmas holidays and you’ll see Covent Garden at its most dazzling. Each cranny and nook is decorated with beautiful ornaments and twinkling lights; now that’s a sight you’ll want to photograph.

The magnificent Kew Gardens in Richmond is said to be the most biodiverse place on Earth with 50,000 different kinds of plants from all over the world. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a dream come true for every photographer. The grounds are brimming with photogenic attractions, from a bamboo garden and stunning pagoda to a Japanese landscape and Mediterranean garden.

The Victorian Palm House resembles a jewellery box with its glass walls arching up towards the sky. You can step back in time in the 17th-century Kew Palace or take a stroll along the treetop walkway to explore the magical views of the Gardens. The nearest Tube station is Richmond, served by the District Line and London Overground.

The iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral is a true emblem of London and popular pilgrimage site for keen photographers. Book a sightseeing ticket, and you will have access to the Cathedral Floor and the Crypt. You can also climb the Dome, up to the three Dome Galleries, which provide incredible views over London. In the Whispering Gallery underneath the Dome, you’ll see how effectively sound travels. 

The choir of St. Paul’s is simply stunning with its ornate details. You can discover a trail of artworks around the Cathedral during your visit, from ‘The Light of the World’ painting by William Holman Hunt to Bill Viola's video-based ‘Martyrs’. The nearest Tube station is St. Paul’s, only a few steps from the Cathedral.

The London Eye is fun at any time, but for the best photos try to ride the wheel around dusk. It’s perfect for sightseeing when the weather turns nasty, but on a cloudless evening, the pink and orange hues of a sunset will take your breath away. 

From the London Eye, you'll be able to spot some of the capital's most iconic landmarks including Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. On a clear day, you can see up to 25 miles (40 km) to Windsor Castle. The get to the London Eye, hop on the Tube and exit at Waterloo.

Marble Arch is a grand archway on Speaker's Corner of Hyde Park, right between Mayfair and Paddington, with its own tube station for easy access. Modelled on Rome's Arch of Constantine and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, it was built for the royal family in the 1800s and makes for a great Instagram pic.

There are 3 arches, with the largest central arch being flanked by 2 smaller ones. The white marble facade will draw you in, and whether it's daytime, or lit up at night, you're sure to find a few great snaps.

If you're a fan of urban art, take the Tube to Aldgate East, head over to Brick Lane and have your camera ready. This part of East London is brimming with street art, and you’ll find most of them in the area between Buxton Street and Bethnal Green Road, near to where the railway bridge crosses over.

There’s everything here from murals of flowers to giant elephants. Check out nearby Hanbury Street that hosts perhaps the area’s most famous artwork, a massive crane by the Belgian artist ROA. The best way to see the urban art here is just to amble down Brick Lane and the surrounding streets and you’ll be sure to find some thrilling works of art.

The Abbey Road pedestrian crossing in north London was made famous by The Beatles when they made it their album cover for the Abbey Road album. The cover shows each of The Beatles crossing Abbey Road and it has become one of the most famous album sleeves of all time. 

Replicate the Fab Four’s cover picture by walking on the famous crossing on Abbey Road. You'll see groups of fans waiting patiently for their chance to recreate the famous shot. This pretty area is north-west of Regent’s Park and south of Hampstead, and includes plenty of cafes and restaurants, as well as Lord's Cricket Ground. The nearest station to Abbey Road is St John’s Wood Tube station.